With the Arizona Coyotes’ relocation to Utah for the start of the 2024-25 season there is now an opening for a team in the desert. It seems likely NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will try and give the Phoenix market another team, especially since he tried so hard to get the Coyotes to work there.

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia has stated he’d like to bring hockey back to Arizona and is one of the few people who has the money to make it happen.

So now that we have spent the past month-and-a-half analyzing all of the moves around the NHL, it is time to take advantage of the slow time and dig into the hypothetical. Specifically, what would an expansion draft for a new Arizona franchise look like this offseason.

Well, I will take you on that journey and try to do a mock expansion draft for a hypothetical Arizona franchise.

We are using the same rules that Seattle had when it entered the league a couple of years ago.

That includes: My team has to pick at least 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders. I must have at least 20 players under contract for the upcoming season. My team also must be salary cap compliant, both above the league’s salary floor and below the league’s salary cap.

The other 32 teams in the league have the option of either protecting seven forwards, three defenders and one goalie, or eight skaters (any combination of forward and defense) and one goalie.

No-movement clauses must also be honored and protected unless the player agrees to waive them.

So with all of that said, let us get to our hypothetical Arizona expansion draft.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Mitchell Chaffee

As great as Tampa Bay is and has been, this is another team where your expansion draft options are going to be mostly uninspiring.

The Lightning’s current lineup is extraordinarily top-heavy, and all of the good players are going to be easily protected.

I am going to take Chaffee just to use as organizational depth.

You still need to stock an AHL roster, and this helps me do that.